Kido Takayoshi

[Kido Koin]

木戸 孝允

Aug 11, 1833 — May 26, 1877

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Kido Koin Under Tokugawa Shogunate
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Kido Koin during Meiji Restoration wearing Western suit

Kido Takayoshi was a Japanese statesman who lived during the Late Tokugawa Period and strongly supported the Meiji Reformation.

Slogan: Invading and isolation is not the way to improvement; accepting and learning is the right way for Japan.

  • Kido Koin did not support the invasion of others nor did he support Japan's isolation in both power and national relationships. He strongly supported accepting and learning ideas from the West, such as education policies and the idea of constitutional government.


Belief:
  • did not believe in violence unless it was for protecting (opposed invading other nations etc.)
    • strongly opposed in the debate of invading Korea
  • believed that Japan needed to learn from the West as well
  • constitutional government
    • a government that is run by a set of laws; opposite of the feudalism in the Tokugawa Period (Kido Koin opposed feudalism)


Achievements:
  • played a large role in the establishment of the new government during Meiji Restoration
  • helped draft the Five Charter Oath—statement of the new government's principles
  • initiated policies of modernization and centralization
  • helped direct the Abolition of the Han System
  • 1871 went on a voyage to the United States and Europe to study educational systems and politics. Afterwards, became a strong advocate of constitutional government
  • 1875 Chairman or the Assembly of Prerfectural Governors
  • educated young emperor Meiji
  • Along with Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, became one of the Ishin-no-Sanketsu "Three Great Nobles of Restoration."


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